MXPA99004718A - Method and device improved to clean fr - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for removing an external portion of a milling cutter including a mill calyx, the device comprising: a knife that includes two guide arms for cutting an external portion of a milling cutter; includes a base section disposed in communication with the knife to define a cutting depth, the base section has a feeder end and outlet end, wherein the two guide arms converge upwards from the base section and converge towards the end In order to form a vertex of knives, the razor apex is vertically spaced a distance from the base section such that the razor forms a substantially V-shaped reversed blade to make a corresponding substantially V-shaped cut in the reamer. remove the strawberry calyx, the substantially V-shaped inverted blade and the base section define a guide channel for positioning vertically and center the cutter in relation to the knife edge while the cutter moves lengthwise from the feeder end to the exit end of the cutter section.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE IMPROVED TO CLEAN FRUIT The present invention relates to the cleaning or preparation of fruits and vegetables, especially cleaning that requires the removal of a portion of the fruit or vegetable. More especially, the present invention teaches a method for removing calyxes from fruits, particularly fleshy fruits including berries, during the harvesting or packaging process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Strawberries are an important harvest in many areas of the country. The best known for retail consumers are the baskets of one or two pints of berries commonly found in grocery stores. This form of harvest is characterized in that the farmer selects substantially "perfect" berries just before they mature completely. This type of harvest for markets is typically done so that the part directly adjacent to the chalice, hereinafter the "shoulder", is green or white. The final ripening of the berries occurs in the basket during transportation to the market. In addition to these "market" sales of harvested berries, strawberries are commonly harvested and processed for at least two other uses. A first alternative use for strawberries is the sale of berries, typically including mashed or damaged fruits, to packers for use in juices. Strawberry juice is a product widely used in the manufacture of jams, preserves, strawberry fillings, and other manufactured products that require strawberry flavor and sugar but which do not require berry fruits in parts or complete. As you can expect, selling strawberries in this way is the least profitable of all harvesting methodologies. However, such uses retain for the farmer some profits for their effort.

Berries are sold to packers and other processors as substantially intact fruit, less those portions of the fruit generally considered as inedible. This is done by removing the calyxes of the fruits. The chalice removal can be accomplished either in the packers or in the field by the collectors, and is commonly accomplished by something no more sophisticated than the removal of the chalice from the head of the berry with the worker's thumb or thumbnail . While this method of harvesting results in the sale of the fruit having a higher market value over the berry juice, the methodology by which the calyxes are removed during processing or harvesting results in several harmful factors. Again, this elaborated article is sold by weight. According to this, it is economically important for the farmer that the removal of the chalices of the strawberries remove a minimum amount of fruit in the weight, and also that it does the least damage to the berries in which a minimum spill of juice occurs, causing again a loss of weight to the farmer, and therefore, loss of profits. This form of packaging is therefore typically carried out in fully ripe fruit, as opposed to the ripening of the fruit discussed above.

A first problem with the manual removal of the chalices of the berries is the inherent and constant lack of hygiene in the process. A second problem with this methodology is the inherent waste. Workers commonly crush or destroy a significant part of each ripe berry while removing the calyx using this crude methodology. Moreover, the simple crushing or pinching of the upper part of the berry not only tends to remove more of the berry, and therefore its value, than what would be the case where the berry is cleaned in a more orderly manner, than the crushing of the upper part of the berry resulting in an additional loss of juice and an increase in the waste of the harvested crop. In effect, a berry is very difficult, if not impossible, to be washed and sanitized before packing. Finally, to allow the previously discussed manual means of removal of the chalices, the farmer should allow the berries to remain on the stem for about 4 to 8 days longer than the berries that are harvested for the markets. This means that the decision to perform the previous harvest form is irrevocable.

To economically process the berries by removing the calyx and a portion of the upper part of the berry so that the berries can be sold in their clean state, either the previously discussed crude manual methodology is used, or the berries are transported to packinghouses where workers clean them manually using knives and cutting boards. This last methodology has the disadvantage of handling each berry twice and involves an additional labor cost to the harvest process. In addition, this subjects the berries to additional damage due to additional handling.

What is needed is a methodology, and an apparatus that performs the methodology, which allows workers, especially field workers, to clean the berries quickly and effectively while they are harvested.

The methodology should allow the rapid removal of chalices and a portion of the upper part of the strawberry leaving the balance of the berry substantially intact, or with a minimum of crushing, and with a clean and hygienic cut in contrast to a roughly crushed top surface , which spills juice and pulp, therefore minimizing the loss of fruit.

The methodology should ensure that the chalices are separated from the fruit, that the fruit is deposited in a collection device, and that the chalices are excluded from the collection device.

The methodology should allow and facilitate the sanitization of the device in field conditions.

The appliance should be safe for workers to use and minimize the danger to workers' hands while processing the berries under extreme pressure of time caused by the berry harvest.

The methodology must adapt, to the current technology of harvesting berries or fruits and, ideally, of an adjunct to it.

Finally, the apparatus to improve the method must be capable of manufacturing and economic distribution.

The invention The present invention teaches the use of a new opening blade adapted for use during harvest. The opening blade of the present invention is a generally planar structure defined in at least one opening through for a clean and hygienic separation of the calyx and a small portion of the upper body part of the fruit from the body balance of the fruit itself . The opening blade of the present invention is attachable to a variety of agricultural implements and containers using suitable fastening methodologies for the equipment or containers available.

In use, the worker takes a harvested berry and places it on the upper surface of the opening blade of the present invention. Then the worker pushes the berry towards the opening, being generally sharp, cleanly removing the chalice and a portion of the upper part of the berry from the very body of the fruit. As the worker continues to push the berry in that direction, the calyx falls on the blade through the opening and while the berry is expelled from the blade, it is collected in a box, container or other collection device. When the cleaning is done in the field during the harvest, this methodology has the additional advantage of leaving the chalices in the field where they can be converted into compost for the next planting.

Brief description of the various views in the drawings.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in the following Detailed Description of the Invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the opening blade of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the plan view of the fastening device of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross section through several of the elements of the opening blade of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a section through the opening blade showing the ratio of the edge of the blade to the raised part of the opening blade Figure 5 is a section through an opening blade 100 in use showing the methodology of such use.

Figure 6 is a prior art representation of a pick-up trolley in which an opening blade 1 of the present invention lends itself to clamping.

Figure 7 is a representation of "a pickup carriage having an opening blade in accordance with the principles of the present invention attached thereto.

Figure 8 is an elevation through the blade and the raised section of the opening blade.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the razor region according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a knife element for operative combination with the razor region of the second preferred embodiment.

Figure 11 is a side view of the knife element for operative combination with the razor region of the second preferred embodiment.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a plan view of the second preferred embodiment, implementing a removable version of the knife element.

Figure 14 is a front view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, implementing a removable version of the blade element a.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, implementing a deviation device between the knife element.

Figure 16 is a view projected through the sections A-A 'of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, implementing a deflection device between the knife element.

Figure 17 is a view projected through the sections B-B 'of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, implementing a deviation device between the knife element.

The reference numbers refer to the same parts or equivalents of the invention through several Figures in the drawing.

Detailed description of the invention Referring now to Figure 1, an opening blade constructed according to the principles of the present invention is shown. In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening blade 1 takes the form of a generally flat structure having a region of the knife 10 in operative combination with a holding device 20. The holding device 20 is for holding the blade of opening 1 to a commonly found item of agricultural equipment or containment as will be described below.

The surface of the knife 10 is formed to define an opening 12, and an edge portion 14. In use, it is contemplated that the portion of the knife 10 marked here as P will be in proximity, or close to, the worker using the blade. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the portion of the blade indicated by the letter D will generally be more distant from the worker. It is in this sense that the use of this preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained. Distant from the portion of the edge 14 arising from which is a generally raised region 16. It is through this surface that the volume of the body of the fruit passes into a container after it has been cleaned. Alternative placement of the blades including one in which the worker pushes the fruit in the distal portion of the blade urging it toward the proximal portion of the blade as well as lateral or other configurations are also contemplated by the principles of the present invention.

Having a further reference to Figure 1, the first preferred embodiment is further described as follows: The opening blade 1 is formed by the knife portion 10 defining a generally flat proximal region 18 where the worker first places the berry in a substantially inverted alignment. Also formed on the blade portion 10 is a raised section 16. In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention the raised portion 16 takes the form of a longitudinally elevated section in operative combination with an opening 12 which defines an edge region. 14. The region of the edge 14 can be sharpened according to the desired degree of edge, as shown. Alternatively, the region of the edge 14 can be formed by making the edge of the blade 1 of a material sufficiently thin that the cutting edge of the material is sufficiently sharp to separate the calyx from the body of the fruit. The edge region 14 in operative combination with the raised portion 16 provides for an inverted V-shaped blade which engages a portion of the fruit thereby separating it from the body of the fruit, discussed in detail below.

The portion of the blade 10 is in operative combination with a clamping device for holding the opening blade to another structure. This clamping device allows a worker to remove the calyx of a fruit element, especially a strawberry, in one movement using only one hand. This then allows, for the first time, a means of cleanly separating the calyx from the fruit in a sufficiently efficient manner to allow the commercial viability of the process. It should be noted that the previous manual methods either resulted in excessive loss of fruit and therefore gain during the removal of the chalice, or were executed by workers using both hands and a knife on a cutting board. This last methodology is both inefficient and expensive.

Referring continued to Figure 1, and further with reference to Figures 2, 6 and 7, a clamping methodology wherein the opening blade of the present invention lends itself to attachment to a commonly encountered element of crop equipment. of berries is discussed. Referring now to Figure 6, a prior art for a harvesting cart for strawberry, 50, is shown. The picking cart 50 comprises a wheeled structure having a means therein for receiving a pick-up box or other container, not shown. In use a collection box is used by a collection cart 50 and the worker manually moves the cart and box between the rows of berries during the harvesting process. The worker is enabled to do this by means of the wheel 52 as well as the handle 54. The handle 54 generally takes the form of a regularly raised trapezoid and is, like the balance of the cart, frequently made of pipe, pipes, cable or the similar ones. To hold the opening blade of the present invention with a removable capacity to the harvesting cart 50, the holding device 20 takes the form of a trapezoidal angle which generally matches and further defines a pair of recursively formed wings 22 and 22 ' . To fasten an opening blade 1 to the collection cart 50, as shown in Figure 7, the wings 22 and 22 'are positioned on the handle 54 of the collection cart 50 and the "device is lowered to the position in where it is received by the handle 54 and held in position by gravity and friction As shown in Figure 7, this configuration places the opening blade 1 with the proximal end of the opening blade 1 closer to the worker standing together to the handle 54, and the far end of the opening blade 1 in or near the collection box 60. In addition, such a reversible clamping methodology allows for rapid cleaning and disinfection of the device in the field by easy removal of the blade and subsequent sterilization Sterilization can be carried out by any means of sterilization known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including but not necessarily limited to: chlorine, iodoform or similar mixtures; the application of heat; boiled; soap; or another known means of cleaning or sterilization. Finally, the principles of the present invention contemplate fastening the opening blade to the worker or his clothing by means of belts, self-adhesive tapes (sailboat), clamps, connectors, closures, snaps, or other fastening methodologies known to those having an ordinary skill in art.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, and 5, the operation of the opening blade 1 is explained. A cross section, AA ', as shown in Figure 1, is detailed in Figure 4. The study of this figure reveals that the formation of aperture 12, not shown, results in a transition of the generally flat section 18. to the raised section 16. This transition is formed along the edge of the blade 14 which serves to clean the berries. Figure 3, a section projected through the opening blade 1, details the relationship of the various sections of the blade.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 3, the elevation of the opening 12 with respect to the flat region 18 and the raised region 16 is shown. In a first preferred embodiment, substantially as shown in Figure 8, the flat region 18 extends distally to form the tongue 15. The height of the tongue 15 with respect to the raised region 16 defines the vertical extent of the opening 12. This determines the amount of the chalice and the shoulder of the berry that is removed during the operation of the device.

A further alternative contemplates adjusting the angle of the tongue 15 with respect to the flat section 18, thereby forming the tongue 15 'as shown in Figure 3. This representation may obviate the need to actually form the raised section 16 for some applications.

Referring now to Figure 5, the method for using the opening knife 1 is shown. A worker places the berry 100 in an inverted form in the flat section 18, which will be mentioned again in this representation, is generally close to or close to the worker. By grasping the berry 100 with one hand, the workers hurry or push the berry 100 towards the raised section 16 and the edge of the blade 14. When the berry 100 contacts the edge of the blade 14, the two arms, not shown, of the edge of the blade 14 simultaneously draws the berry 100 into a generally central alignment with respect to the edge of the blade 14. Referring now to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that the edge of the blade 14 is, in this embodiment, a generally shaped structure. of V formed by the creation of a generally V-shaped opening 12. Accordingly, the edge of the blade 14 further comprises edges 14 'and 14". It has been found that the use of edges of convergent blades 14 'and 14"allows the quick and precise placement and cutting of the berries with the apparatus. Alternative geometries of the blade, including arched edges, straight edges, and polygonal edges can, with equal f-acility, be corrected. In the implementation of these different blade geometries, alternative tongue geometries can be formed. Such tongue geometries include shapes corresponding to the blades, as shown here, as well as tongue geometries that differ from the geometries of the blades. An example of this last representation would be the use of an arched tongue with an angled knife.

Referring continuously to Figure 5, when the berry 100 is rushed in the indicated direction, the converging nature of the blade edges 14 'and 14"involves the shoulders of the berry near the calyx 102. As the berry 100 is continuously rushed along an opening blade 1, the cut through either side of the berry is realized and consummated, thereby releasing the chalice 102 of the berry 100. A continuation of the worker's movement draws the berry 100 towards the collection device, for example a container, not shown.

A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is formed of corrosion resistant metal sheet, formed substantially as discussed. This formation could by means of die-cutting, welding, casting, or other well-known metal fabrication method for those having ordinary skill in the art. Alternatively, the present invention can, with equal ease, be implemented using a number of alternative materials including but not necessarily limited to plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, ceramics, or compounds or combinations of the foregoing.

The first preferred embodiment of the present invention is preferably formed as a single piece. An alternative embodiment contemplated by the principles of the present invention is the formation of the opening blade of the present by two or more parts. This "bi-part" representation can be formed by several methodologies, as shown in Figures 9 to 14.

Referring now to Figure 9, the portion of the blade 10 of the opening blade 1 is shown. In this embodiment, the opening 12 'is formed substantially as shown, the opening 12' further defining the tongue 15. In operative combination with the portion of the knife 10 is the knife element 60 shown in Figure 10. Referring to that Figure, the blade element 10 includes a raised portion 64 similar to the raised section 16 shown in Figure 8. Additionally, the razor member 60 comprises a substantially planar eyebrow 61 that extends around one or more edges. of the raised section 64. Optionally, the stopping receiver 73 would be formed in one or more portions of the eyebrow 61. The stopping receptor 73 will be explained below. A side view of the knife element 60 is shown in Figure 11.

The razor element 60 may be attached to the razor portion 10 in substantially any known manner to those having ordinary skill in the art. In one version of this representation, the knife element 60 is positioned on the opening 12 ', as shown. After the placement of the knife element 60 on the opening 12 'the razor element 60 is permanently attached to the knife portion 10 by welding the eyebrow 61 at one or more points around its periphery, as in 65. Alternative methodologies of permanent subjection, including but not necessarily limited to electric welding, weld welding, binding, spot welding, impulse welding, and the like may, with equal ease, be implemented.

Another version of this representation contemplates that the razor element 60 may be presented as removable from the razor portion 10 for cleaning, sharpening, or other maintenance purposes. With the intention of implementing this representation, one or more elevated receivers, 70, are formed in the portion of the razor 1. In this representation the element of the razor 60 is received by sliding in the receivers 70, and is held in position by one or more holders 71 formed in the receiver 70 which is subsequently received in the receiver 73 shown in Figure 10. In this way, the razor element 60 is maintained in position over the opening 12 'more still being presented as removable for the previously discussed cleaning tasks. Again, alternative methodologies of removable fastening can, with equal ease, be implemented to perform this function. These methodologies include, but are not again limited to: bolt-on fasteners; nuts and bolts; patent brooches such as Dzus® brooches; pins, including pin pins; tweezers; and the similar ones. A front view of this representation is shown in Figure 14.

An additional representation is shown in Figures 15-17. Referring to those Figures, this representation is explained as follows: The opening blade 100 comprises a generally flat body 101. The body 101 defines an opening 104, and at least one, and preferably a plurality of eyebrows 112 and 112 '. The eyebrows 112 and 112 'are formed to fit and receive by sliding in these the phalanges 110 and 110' of the blade element 102. A portion of the element 101, adjacent to the opening 104, and preferably remote from the user defines the deflector 106 The knife element is preferably formed of corrosion resistant metal sheet having a thickness of 0.635 centimeters to 0.0127 centimeters and more preferably, of approximately 0.0762 centimeters. The edges 114 and 114 'of the blade element 102 are rounded. It has been found that the combination of knife edges 114 and 114 'having approximately this thickness formed with a round profile not only provide an efficient cutting implement for strawberries, but the rounded profiles thereof prevent damage to hands and fingers. of the users during the repeated operation of the same. Of course, alternative thicknesses of material and edge profiles, as discussed above, can be implemented with equal ease.

The knife element 102 is retained in, in this representation, by means of the distal ends of the eyebrows 112 and 112 'being somewhat compressed, thereby forming a narrow end section. In this way, the element of the knife 102 is retained in position in the body 101 by means of the friction between the phalanges 110/110 'and the eyebrows 112/112', as well as the force of gravity that draws the element of the Razor 102 down and towards the narrow end ends sections of the eyebrows 112 and 112 '.

The knife element 102 is formed as a convex angular structure, having a pair of phalanges 110 and 110 'as previously discussed. Alternative cutting profiles and edge geometries can also be implemented, as previously discussed.

The deflector 106 arises from the distal end of the aperture 104, and performs two main functions: A first function performed by the deflector 106 is to deflect the already separated calyces away and away from the opening blade 100 and away from the collection box, not shown in this Figure. In use, the user rushes a production element, such as the above discussed cutter away from itself and towards the apex, 115, of the razor element 102. The edges 114 and 114 'in operative combination serve both to center the berry between these and to separate the chalice from the berry. The substantially moist nature of both the berry and the separated calyx can, under the same conditions, serve to keep the chalices separated in wet contact with the opening blade 100 after they have been separated. Deflector 106 obviates the problem of such chalices separated from an unwanted migration of the chalices to the collection container.

A second function performed by the deflector 106 is to support and maintain the convex angle, a, of the blade element 102. This function is explained as follows: When a user draws a berry in contact with the blade element 102, there may be a considerable downward directed force imparted to the upper surface of the blade member 102. So that this downwardly directed force does not spread over the blade member 102 outwardly, increasing the angle a, and concomitantly decreasing the amount of calyx removed from a berry the size and profile of baffle 106, are chosen to fit snugly to the lower surface of the blade member 102, preventing the deviation of the elements downward, and maintaining the desired depth of cut along of the berry. The opening blade 100 is also presented as being attachable to an agricultural harvesting or processing element by means of the holding device 20.

The clamping device 20 previously discussed details a clamping methodology contemplated by the present invention. It will again be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that alternative clamping methodologies wherein the opening blade of the present invention is presented as clamped, particularly reversibly clamped, to an article of agricultural equipment, processing equipment , or similar ones can be equally easily imp1emented. These fastening methodologies include, but are not again limited to: bolt-on fasteners and the like, trims, patent fasteners including but not limited to DZUS® patent fasteners, clamps, clamps, patent fasteners, self-adhesive tape (sailboat), adhesives, solders, and other methodologies known to those who have an ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to certain preferred representations of the features thereof. However, it should be immediately apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. In particular, the use of the present invention with alternative methodologies of fastening, geometries of the blades, geometries of the openings, materials, and the like are specifically contemplated by the principles of the present invention. The invention disclosed herein can be practiced without any element that is not specifically disclosed herein.

Claims (6)

Claims

1. - An opening blade adapted for production cleaning, the opening blade comprising: a flat section of the body defining an opening; a raised section defining an edge in operative combination with the flat section and the opening; and fastening means for holding the opening blade to an object, wherein the flat section, the raised section and the opening operate in combination to receive a production element therein, to guide the production element to a trailing edge, separating and removing at least a portion of the production element.

2. - A method for cleaning a production element, the production element including a body and an outer portion, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the production element on an opening blade, the opening blade including a flat section of the body defining an opening, a raised section including an edge in operative combination with the flat section and the opening, and fastening means for holding the opening blade to an object; driving the production element in contact with the edge of the raised section; and continuing to drive the production element through the edge of the raised section, thus separating the outer portion of the production element and driving the outer portion away from the opening blade and the body of the production element is deposited in a collection means .

3. - A processed production element including only a portion of the body, an external portion thereof having been removed by the steps of: positioning the production element on the opening blade, the opening blade including a flat section of the body defining an opening , a raised section including an edge in operative combination with the flat section and the opening, and fastening means for holding the opening blade to an object; driving the production element in contact with the edge of the raised section; and continuing to drive the production element along the edge of the raised section, thus separating the outer portion of the production element and urging the outer portion of the opening blade and the body of the production element is deposited in a collection means.

4. - An opening blade adapted for production cleaning, the opening blade comprising: a flat section of the body defining an opening; a raised section defining an edge in operative combination with the flat section and the opening; a baffle disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the opening, the baffle further disposed in the raised section; and fastening means for holding the opening blade an object, wherein the flat section, the raised section and the opening operate in combination to receive in them a production element, to guide the production element to an edge later, separating and removing at least a portion of the production element.

5. - A method for cleaning a production element, the production element including a body and an outer portion, the method comprising the steps of: positioning the production element on the opening blade, the opening blade including a flat section of the body defining an opening, a raised section including an edge in operative combination with the flat section and the opening, a deflector disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the opening, the deflector further disposed in the raised section, and fastening means for holding the opening blade to an object; driving the production element in contact with the edge of the raised section; and continuing to drive the production element along the edge of the raised section, thereby separating the outer portion of the production element and urging the outer portion in contact with the baffle, wherein the outer portion is drawn away from the opening blade and the The body of the production element is deposited in the middle of collection.

6. - A processed production element including only a portion of the body an external portion thereof having been removed by the steps of: positioning the production element on an opening blade, the opening blade including a flat section of the body defining an opening, a raised section including an edge in operative combination with the flat section and the opening, a deflector disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the opening, the deflector also disposed in the raised section, and fastening means for holding the opening blade to an object; driving the production element in contact with the edge of the raised section continue to drive the production element through the edge of the raised section, thus separating the outer portion of the production element and driving the outer portion in contact with the baffle, where the outer portion is driven away from the opening blade and the body of the production element is deposited in a collection means.